Apostles - Paul and Apollos - should be seen as:
4:3–6
Regarding judgement of the apostles. “Human day” is used here and it refers to human judgement. On the opposing side, “the day of the Lord” (3:13). The basic message is: (1) Apparently, Paul does not care about being judged - negatively evaluated? - by people (but see 2 Cor 11:16–12:6 where Paul cares what other think about him); (2) we are not to judge others (see Matt 7:1; James 4:11–12, but see also 1 Cor 5:12 where Paul speaks about judging members of the community). Here, judgement includes opinion about others: ‘who is better than others’ and preferences: ‘I like this apostles and I like the other one’. That what the Corinthians were doing.
When Paul says that he is not judging even himself, we should understand it as not comparing himself to other apostles and not making opinions about himself. Let the Lord be the one to do it. Even if your conscience does not bother you, it does not mean that you are perfect.
Verse 4:5 - a powerful statement to reflect upon (see Job 12:22; Psalm 139:1–6; Daniel 2:22).
Four problems were plaguing the community in Corinth:
4:7–13
The last point (4) is addressed in the following verses in the form of three rhetorical questions (4:7) and in the form of an irony (4:8–13).
The contrast is powerful (4:8–10.11–12a):
| Corinthians | Apostles (Paul) |
|---|---|
| having been glutted, become rich | hungry, thirsty, naked, buffeted, no certain dwelling place, working with hands |
| reigning as kings | the last one, as if appointed for death |
| wise in Christ | fools in Christ |
| strong | weak |
| honorable | despised |
Verse 4:9 contains a beautiful metaphor: a life of an apostle is compared to “a spectacle” - a movie in todays language - seen by the universe - the angels and the people. Will this movie have a sad or happy ending?
The life on the apostles is in a shocking contrast with the life of the Corinthians. Apparently, they go by different logic or standards - Godly and worldly.
Verse 11 begins with the phrase “until the present hour” and verse 13 ends with the same phrase. In between we have the description of a life of an apostle (see also 2 Cor 11:23–29).
The conclusion? Such a life is seen as refuse and scum - foolishness in the eyes of the world. In the same way, the world sees the Cross - as foolishness.
4:14–21
From irony, Paul moves to a reconciliatory tone. The relationship between the apostle and the Corinthians is pictured in father-children metaphor. They are Paul’s “Beloved children” (4:14; see Mark 1:11 - Jesus as beloved Son of the Father).
There is difference between “instructor” - (paidagogous in Greek - from this word we derive the word pedagog - teacher) and “father”. The first instructs, teachers, correct; but it is the second that ‘gives birth’. Paul has become their father by the proclamation of the Gospel to them. The stress on this fatherly role is related to the fact that some were undermining his position (see 2 Cor 12:12–15). Some were placing “instructors” - Apollos? - over the “fathers” - Paul (those who proclaim the kerygma - the foundational truths of the Gospel).
“Be imitators of me” (4:16) Why? Because, Paul himself is an imitator of Christ (1 Cor 11:1; see also Phil 3:17; 1 Thess 1:6; 2 Thess 3:7.9). They could not see the risen Christ personally; they could see Him in Paul’s life.
Verse 4:17 adds slightly different meaning to the phrase “be imitators of me”, namely “bring into remembrance”. It is from remembering that imitation springs up. Note, that Timothy is also called “beloved child”. A father sends one of his beloved children to other beloved children (see Gen 37:13; Matt 21:37). Unfortunately, the beloved children (the Corinthians) did not listen to the beloved child (Timothy). As we have seen in the introduction, it was Timothy who brought bad news to Paul about the situation in Corinth.
Verse 4:18 indicates that some within the community seeing that Paul did not come personally but sent young Timothy got proud - they ego got inflated with pride. Did they scare Timothy (1 Cor 16:10)? Were they also thinking that Paul was afraid of them?
Apparently Paul did come to visit them - it was a short visit directly from Ephesus to Corinth and back (2 Cor 2:1;13:2); and apparently during that visit one of the members “grieved” (insulted?) Paul (2 Cor 2:5–11).